Eifler said the ensuing lack of communication from A-Treat prompted him to essentially wash his hands of the whole deal Tuesday, one day after The Morning Call reported the transaction was in serious jeopardy.

A-Treat Bottling Co. bought by Allentown businessman Paul Eifler.

(APRIL BARTHOLOMEW / THE MORNING CALL )

"I am extremely disappointed that the sellers did not follow through on our verbal agreement to purchase the A-Treat brand and formulas," Eifler said in a statement. "As we moved through the negotiation process, several deadlines passed without any response.

"Nothing had changed on our end," he said. "In my opinion, the resulting inactivity has significantly damaged the value of the original agreement."

While the circumstances of the deal's collapse have not been disclosed, there are indications that comments about the company's aging equipment — and a subsequent apology from Eifler — played a part.

When the deal was announced, Eifler and business consultant Howard Lieberman, who orchestrated the transaction, said they were not interested in buying the manufacturing plant at 2001 E. Union Blvd. in east Allentown or the equipment inside. The equipment was too old and inefficient, they said, so it would have to be replaced, and that would prove costly.

"It has to make sense, and using the existing machines made no sense," Eifler said at the time.

Last week, A-Treat attorney Jerry Barr told The Morning Call it was what Eifler said about the equipment — not anything Eifler did or didn't do — that put an end to the deal.

Barr said those comments were inappropriate, given that Garvey is trying to sell the A-Treat property separately for $2.9 million.

Eifler, who declined to say how much he agreed to pay for A-Treat's name, trademark, flavor formulas and related intellectual property, said he sent A-Treat a letter of apology but never heard back from anyone at the company. Neither Garvey nor Barr returned messages Tuesday seeking comment.

A-Treat abruptly shut down production Jan. 23, prompting a massive outpouring of support on social media from fans and customers.

As the tributes poured in, Eifler emerged from a field of more than 10 potential suitors for the company. Armed with what he called a "gentlemen's agreement," he quickly went to work marketing the company's classic soda brands.

Eifler was in talks with production companies, warehouse facilities and others. He had prototypes of A-Treat T-shirts and banners at the ready. He was invited to parades, and had planned to do a rollout of the new A-Treat during Musikfest in August, he said.

"The summer's shot now," Eifler said.

Tony Iannelli, president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said there is still a chance for an A-Treat revival, but it would be a "tough hill to climb."

A potential buyer would face substantial investments into the infrastructure of A-Treat's plant — making sure the facility keeps up with codes and 21st-century equipment — and the challenge of getting its product back on the shelves after such a delay.

"It's the Hess of our beverage world," Iannelli said, referring to the famous Hess's Department Store that once stood in Allentown. "Everyone has had an A-Treat. We all have the stories; we all have the history, but history doesn't always translate into the future."

Eifler, who said resurrecting A-Treat "would have been a great ride," said later Tuesday that he was not thinking about the deal anymore.

"Having said that," he added, "if the phone would ring, I would listen."